Device for obtaining information required for a 3d representation of an artificial climbing wall

ABSTRACT

A device for obtaining information required for a 3D representation of the topography of an artificial wall including a plurality of holds, wherein it includes at least one sensor for measuring the angular orientation of one of the holds of the artificial wall about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to said wall, a marker secured to the hold associated with the sensor and containing information relating to said hold and at least one parameter allowing the latter to be identified, and a signal reader for reading the data contained in the marker.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This device relates to a device for obtaining information required for a 3D representation (in three dimensions) of the topography of an artificial climbing wall.

PRIOR ART

Since the democratisation of climbing towards the end of the 1970s, climbers have always sought to view with precision and beforehand the climbing paths in order to consider their ascension with serenity. This desire is all the more so with the appearance of artificial climbing walls.

In this respect, the latter are conventionally composed of an assembly of wooden panels with a thickness ranging from fifteen to thirty millimetres and comprising a regular meshing of holes arranged every fifteen to twenty-five centimetres. Said holes are able to receive inserts preferably made of metal that will make it possible to fasten holds onto said artificial climbing walls using screws. Moreover, holds are generally comprised of a body made of resin provided with a central orifice able to cooperate with a screw in order to provide for the fastening thereof, said body comprising an exterior portion intended to support a climber and a substantially flat mounting face able to cooperate with said climbing wall.

However, once the holds are set in place on the artificial wall by a worker, it is very difficult to preview a given climbing path, because said holds are positioned more or less precisely by said worker and over time can pivot, caused in particular to an untimely loosening of their fastening screw.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention has for purpose to overcome the aforementioned disadvantage and to propose a device for a 3D representation of the topography of an artificial climbing wall, said device being easy to implement and allowing in particular for a topography with an automatic update and in real time as soon as a hold is replaced or has a new angular position.

In accordance with the invention, a device is therefore proposed for obtaining information required for a 3D representation of the topography of an artificial wall comprising a plurality of holds characterised in that it comprises at least one sensor for measuring the angular orientation of one of the holds of the artificial wall about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to said wall, a marker secured to the hold associated with the sensor and containing information relative to said hold and at least one parameter making it possible to identify the latter, and a signal reader able to read the data contained in the marker.

Advantageously, each hold is provided with a sensor for measuring the angular orientation, said sensor being secured at least partially to said hold.

According to a preferred embodiment, each sensor makes it possible to measure the angular orientation of the associated hold with respect to a reference axis, advantageously the horizontal axis, and is of the inclinometer type.

According to a preferred embodiment, the sensor and marker then form a single and same part.

Said signal reader is advantageously a radio frequency emitting card in order to make possible, on the one hand, an activation at least of the marker by supply it with the energy that it needs and, on the other hand, the reading of the information that it contains, as soon as the hold is in the immediate vicinity of said reader.

The device further comprises a control unit of the various readers able to collect the measurements of the angular orientation of the various holds carried out by the sensors.

Likewise, the device preferably comprises a multiplatform software interface. The latter is carried out advantageously in the form of a web server integrated into said control unit.

According to a preferred embodiment, the device comprises an interactive terminal that makes it possible to view the topography in 3D of the artificial wall, said control unit comprising a means of connection that allows the terminal to be connected to said onboard software interface via a wireless protocol, of the “WIFI” type, or via “ETHERNET” cables.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other advantages and characteristics shall appear better in the following description of an alternative embodiment of a device for obtaining information required for a 3D representation of the topography of an artificial climbing wall according to the invention in reference to the following figures:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a climbing wall provided with a device for the 3D representation of the topography of an artificial climbing wall according to the invention and of an associated software interface terminal;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of one of the holds of FIG. 1.

BEST MANNER FOR CARRYING OUT THE TECHNICAL INVENTION

A device for obtaining information required for a 3D representation of the topography of a vertical artificial climbing wall shall be described hereinafter. It goes without saying that the wall whereon said device is arranged can also be more or less inclined, the terms such as, for example, vertical and/or horizontal will then need to be adapted according to the inclination of said wall.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a device 1 for the obtaining of information required for a 3D representation of the topography of an artificial wall 2 according to the invention. Said artificial wall 2 is comprised of an assembly of wooden panels 4 comprising a regular meshing of holes 5, for example, allowing for the fastening of holds 6 using screws 7 in particular.

The device 1 comprises at least one sensor 8 for measuring the angular orientation of one of the holds 6 of the artificial wall 2 about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to said wall 2, with this axis of orientation conventionally corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the fastening screw 7 of said hold 6, said sensor 8 being powered by a source of energy such as for example the urban electric network. It is well understood that each hold 6 is advantageously provided with a sensor 8 for measuring the angular orientation, said sensor 8 being secured at least partially to said hold 6.

According to a preferred embodiment, each sensor 8 makes it possible to measure the angular orientation of the associated hold 6 with respect to a reference axis, advantageously the horizontal axis, and is of the inclinometer type.

However, without leaving the scope of this invention, said sensor 8 can be of another type such as, for example, an angular sensor that makes it possible to measure the angular orientation of the associated hold 6 with respect to a given position.

It is well understood that the sensor 8 according to the invention is interesting because it is a sensor that gives, directly and with precision, the measurement of the angular orientation of the associated hold 6 without needing to carry out many tests and/or additional calculations in order to obtain using an iterative method an estimation of said measurement.

Each sensor 8 is advantageously associated with a marker 9, advantageously of the RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) type. Said marker 9 is secured to the hold 6 and contains information relative to said associated hold and at least one parameter making it possible to identify said hold 6 such as, for example its serial number. The latter will make it possible thanks to a listing or a computerised database to obtain other additional information relative to the hold 6 such as, for example, the type and the morphology of the hold 6, the contact information for the manufacturer, the date of manufacture.

Without leaving the scope of this invention and in order to not have to use a database, the marker 6 can contain more information.

The device 1 further comprises a signal reader 10 powered by a source of energy not shown in the figures, advantageously secured to the artificial wall 2, and able to read the data contained in the marker 9.

According to a preferred embodiment, the reader 10 is a radio frequency emitting card in order to make possible, on the one hand, an activation of the marker 9 by supplying it in particular with the energy that it needs and, on the other hand, the reading of the information that it contains, as soon as the hold 6, and therefore the marker 9, is in the immediate vicinity of said reader 10.

The term “reader 10 secured to the artificial wall 2” means the fact that the reader 10 (preferably an emitting card) can be fixed onto or at least partially inserted into the front face of said artificial wall 2, or fixed onto or at least partially inserted into the rear face of said artificial wall 2, or embedded into the thickness of said artificial wall 2.

The term front face of the artificial wall 2 designates here the vertical face that receives the holds 3 and the term rear face designates the opposite face.

However, for reasons of facility in implementation, the reader 10 is preferably fixed onto the rear face of the artificial wall 2 at the same level as the associated hold 6.

In reference to FIG. 2, the device 1 also comprises a control unit 11 of the various readers 10 and a software interface operating preferably using an interactive terminal 12 making it possible to manage the activation of said readers 10 and therefore of the holds 6 according to a determined path.

The control unit 11 is also connected to the various sensors 8 and is able to collect the measurements of the angular orientation of the various holds 6 carried out by the latter.

The control unit 11 comprises an electric power source, not shown, to supply with energy the readers 10 and more preferably the sensors 8, and a microcontroller not shown and which makes it possible to control the proper operation of the device 1 according to the invention.

However, the software interface can also be used on other hardware platforms with for example restrictions in features according to the users.

As such, an interactive Smartphone/PC/terminal version will make it possible to view and choose paths, and to save various parameters proper to the climbers 5.

A PC (Personal Computer) version will be mainly dedicated to the computer of the sports coach or to the manager of the wall room provided with the device 1 according to the invention.

In order to ensure compatibility between the various platforms, the software interface is more preferably carried out in the form of a web server integrated into said control unit 11, with the latter comprising a means of connection, not shown, allowing the terminal 12 to be connected to the software interface integrated into said control unit 11 via a wireless protocol, of the “WIFI” type, or via “ETHERNET” cables.

With the device 1 according to the invention, it is well understood that a user can at any time have a 3D view of an artificial wall 2 in general and of the path that the user has chosen to carry out in particular. Indeed, the user knows in real time information on the type of holds 6, their morphology and their angular orientation which allows the user to visualise the path chosen in space and therefore prepare the ascension in complete serenity.

Furthermore, it is well understood that the knowledge of the angular orientation of the various holds 6 makes it possible, where applicable, to detect an untimely loosening of one of the holds 6 and to prevent an accident such as the falling of the user.

Likewise, knowledge of the type of the different holds 6 allows for a traceability of the latter in order to verify their source, their quality and their date of manufacture and to carry out, where applicable, the replacing thereof with a concern for safety.

Description of Other Embodiments

According to an alternative not shown, the device for obtaining information required for a 3D representation of the topography of an artificial wall comprises a sensor for measuring the angular orientation of a hold provided with a marker, in such a way that the sensor and marker, similar to those described hereinabove, then form a single and same part. In this alternative, the marker of the sensor-marker unit is advantageously of the RFID type. Said device also comprises a signal reader, such as described hereinabove and which is advantageously a radio frequency emitting card in order to make possible, on the one hand, an activation of the sensor-marker unit by supplying it in particular with the energy that it needs and, on the other hand, the reading of the information that it contains, as soon as the hold, and therefore the sensor-marker unit, is in the immediate vicinity of said reader.

Possibility for Industrial Application

The device 1 for obtaining information required for a 3D representation for a climber 3 of the topography of an artificial wall 2 according to the invention applies to any type of climbers 3 during a course with or without a sports coach, but it can also be used, for example, for an educational or rehabilitation purpose, by forcing said climber to execute predefined movements that call upon very specific muscles.

Finally, it goes without saying that the examples of device 1 in accordance with the invention that have just been described are only particular illustrations, and do not in any case limit the invention. 

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A device for obtaining information required for a 3D representation of the topography of an artificial wall comprising: a plurality of holds with at least one sensor for measuring the angular orientation of one of the holds of the artificial wall about an axis substantially perpendicular to said wall, a marker secured to the hold associated with the sensor and containing information relative to said hold and at least one parameter that makes it possible to identify the latter and a signal reader able to read the data contained in the marker.
 12. The device according to claim 11, wherein each hold is provided with a sensor for measuring the angular orientation, said sensor being secured at least partially to said hold.
 13. The device according to claim 11, wherein each sensor makes it possible to measure the angular orientation of the associated hold with respect to a reference axis, advantageously the horizontal axis, and is of an inclinometer.
 14. The device according to claim 11, wherein each marker is an RFID.
 15. The device according to claim 11, wherein the sensor and marker then form a single and same part
 16. The device according to claim 11, wherein the signal reader is a radio frequency emitting card in order to allow, on the one hand, an activation at least of the marker by supplying it in particular with the energy that it needs and, on the other hand, the reading of the information that it contains, as soon as the hold is in the immediate vicinity of said reader.
 17. The device according to claim 11, further comprising: a control unit of the various readers able to collect the measurements of the angular orientation of the different holds carried out by the sensors.
 18. The device according to claim 11, further comprising: a multiplatform software interface.
 19. The device according to claim 17, wherein the software interface is carried out in the form of a web server integrated into said control unit.
 20. The device according to claims 17, further comprising: an interactive terminal that makes it possible to view the topography in 3D of the artificial wall and in that said control unit comprises a means of connection allowing the terminal to be connected to said onboard software interface via a wireless protocol, of “WIFI”, or via “ETHERNET” cables. 